Articula-ula-ulation

the process of articulation - how does articulation operate

Okay. Here we go. In Datacloud articulation is defined as "...the form of the connection that can be made between two different elements, under certain conditions. It is a linkage that is not necessary, determined, absolute and essential for all time" (9).

That made absolutely no sense to me the first time I read it. Please write in English! Actually that definition isn't too bad, but there has to be more, and better. With that thought in mind, I went on a search for knowledge.

At first I had a difficult time with this concept. For that matter, I have a difficult time wrapping my head around a lot of theory. As a result of my shortcomings, I decided to investigate my esteemed classmate's blogs. I checked out Chelsea's first and got nowhere. Sorry Chelsea, but it sounded too much like more theory :). So I looked at Meghan's and Lisa's and those helped a bit more. At least I know I am not the only one having trouble with this.

After my blog tour I decide to check out Wikipedia wik (author's spelling) said, "Articulating principles 'operate by combining existing elements into new patterns or by attaching new connotations to them'" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articulation_(sociology)). This definition, combined with the information from the rest of my search, helped me to start formulating the beginnings of a new understanding. Alas, a new dawn!

I would suggest that the way multimedia software mimics the buttons used on VCRs and DVD players is an example of articulation and the process. The Play (triangle), Pause (double vertical lines), and Stop (square) buttons look the same and make it easier for computer users to assimilate the new technology. Now if they could just program in a flashing clock for my parents! What is it and how does it operate? In a way, I think that the quote from Wikipedia answers both questions about articulation. Enough said.

Or maybe not...

In thinking about this a bit more, I am not sure if the example I gave is a good one. I was reading from Practices of Looking (by Marita Sturken and Lisa Cartwright) for my Visual Rhetoric class and the authors provided an example of how Madonna used images associated with the Catholic Church such as the crucifix, etc. and combined that with trappings associated with Marilyn Monroe to create a new persona. Perhaps this is a better example of articulation. Madonna took existing patterns and combined them into something new.